The Loss Of A True Gentleman

As I learned the shocking news of the death of Tim Russert at the young age of 58 I could not help but think that we have lost a true class act.

As I sit here listening to the tributes pouring over all of the news networks I hear the people talk about how wonderful of a person he was. Normally you might think that they are simply being kind to the departed, but in this case you get the real feeling that the setiments are genuine. The grief demonstrated by those who knew him is too real to be anything but sincere. Indeed the fact that *all* of the cable networks are covering this heavily is a sign of how respected he was.

I didn’t always agree with his political views, but he always struck me as being fair and respectful to everyone regardless of what he thought of their political views. Perhaps this in part stems from the fact that he was not simply a talking head but a truly brilliant person. A gifted lawyer and aide to both Governor Mario Cuomo and Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan before he entered the news arena, he had perhaps a better understanding of how political people work.

He was also a devoted family man, according to his colleagues he would often step away from interviews with newsmakers to check in with his son Luke. Indeed, he had just returned from a trip to Italy in celebration of Luke’s graduation from Boston College.

Perhaps the best tribute to Tim is the fact that he died on the job. News reports say he collapsed and died of a heart attack while working at the NBC studios. He certainly enjoyed his job and must have relished the incredible primary process we just completed, though it would have been wonderful to see him cover the rest of the campaign.

I think all my fellow bloggers join together in offering out deepest sympathies to the Russert family.